Diabetic patients are dying in hospital due to failures in insulin management, a national safety investigation has found.
Hospital insulin mismanagement is putting diabetic patients at risk of serious harm and death
The UK’s Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) warned that people with diabetes face “persistent and serious safety risks” during hospital stays, with errors in insulin prescribing and administration continuing despite known dangers.
Insulin is a life-saving treatment for individuals with type 1 and some cases of type 2 diabetes, but it is also recognised as one of the highest-risk medications in the NHS. Even minor mistakes in timing or dosage can result in severe harm or death.
The investigation identified multiple fatal incidents, including cases where patients received excessively high doses, had insulin infusions stopped and not restarted, or were administered insulin after meals instead of before. In some cases, these errors were reported to recur despite previous incidents.
The report also found that diabetes care in hospitals is often fragmented, with responsibility placed on individual NHS trusts, leading to gaps in oversight and accountability.
Training for non-specialist staff was described as inconsistent, with no nationally mandated minimum standard, while specialist diabetes teams are frequently under-resourced.
Senior safety investigator at the HSSIB, Craig Hadley, told The Sun “Patients with diabetes who rely on insulin still face persistent and avoidable risks when they come into hospital. When insulin management is disrupted – even briefly – the consequences can be serious.”
Esther Walden, senior clinical advisor at Diabetes UK added: “Many people with diabetes tell us their fears of being admitted to hospital. This report confirms that despite some progress, unacceptable variations in care continue to put people using insulin at risk.”
The Diabetes UK said clearer protocols, stronger leadership, and improved training are urgently needed to reduce risk and prevent further harm.
Diabetes affects more than three million people in England, with numbers expected to rise significantly in the coming years, increasing pressure on already stretched hospital services.